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Magnetic air hoses Locos and rolling stock
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Prolific poster 1,211 posts lexon Prolific poster 1,211 posts
lexon

Just watched an video about these hoses. Some here might like them. Successful operation might depend on the radius of the curves.
Quite interesting.
Google MagnaLock air hoses

Rich
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jogden Regular poster 128 posts
jogden

MagnaLock Air Hoses

I was curious when they first came out, so I bought a couple packages of the HO scale hoses. At first, I had mixed feelings. The first pair took hours to install using the method in the instructions. As I was installing them, I seriously wondered if it was worth all the trouble. You need to install a pair on two cars to really get the full operating air hose experience, because that allows them to couple and uncouple. I like them, although I find them to be a bit high priced to be a priority for me. They are much easier to install and much more rewarding since I invented my own way of doing it, and the end result is exactly the same as using the manufacturer's instructions. I have operated mine on curves as tight as 18 inch radius without any problems. They flex pretty well and if they're mounted in the correct location, they just flex as the cars move relative to each other. Even if you found a track arrangement that caused them to pull apart, they would immediately recouple themselves when they were within reach again, due to the magnets. I did find that the magnets are surprisingly strong. If you try to cut away and leave just one or two cars that roll easily, the air hoses will actually pull the cars along. You can hold the cars in place, or sometimes if you make a more sudden cut, it yanks the air hoses apart. I've always wanted to see if I could reproduce that feature on the prototype, but it usually just seems like too much work to wire and duct tape the glad hands together just before making a cut!

-James Ogden
Skagway, AK
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ctxmf74 Super User 15,934 posts
ctxmf74

Magnetic airhoses

    I used them on my O scale stuff years ago but am not putting them on my HO stuff. I built my own from tiny magnets and rubber tubing after reading an article in MR mag about a layout called  named Davis Jct.  IIRC. The O scale cars are big enough that making working angle cocks is possible so the handle can match the state of the airhose (connected or shut off and hanging loose). If I was building a small HO layout with not much stuff to equip I might consider magnetic airhoses along with sergent couplers but for a larger fleet it would be more time and effort to install and maintain them....DaveB

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Nelsonb111563 Moderator 2,265 posts
Nelsonb111563

Also see this thread................

I posted this quite a while back when they first came out.

https://forum.mrhmag.com/post/self-coupling-air-hoses-ho-scale-12192230

Nelson Beaudry,  Principle/CEO

Kennebec, Penobscot and Northern RR Co.
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Michael Whiteman Frequent poster 519 posts
Michael Whiteman

Disapointed

After watching the videos I was excited about receiving my order.  They weren't that difficult to install if you follow the directions.  They look great and couple magically every time.  The problem on my switching layout came when I would drop one or two cars at an industry.  Looking back, as I pulled away, the cars were being dragged along by the air hose.  This company is in the process of designing these air hoses in N scale.  I suggested to them to use the N scale magnets on the HO versions because the way it is now the magnets are too strong.

This is not an issue if you run full length trains on the main line and separate longer cuts of cars from your train. Overall, I think this is a good looking product whose performance will improve with time.
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Bill Brillinger Moderator 4,904 posts
Bill Brillinger

I wonder...

how these would perform with super-weighted cars like Mike Confalone runs?

Bill Brillinger

Modeling the BNML in HO Scale, Admin for the RailPro User Group, and owner of Precision Design Co.
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Dave K skiloff Prolific poster 4,030 posts
Dave K skiloff

Something I will be doing

Bill, I will certainly be testing that out at some point.  I suspect with the added weight, it will not be a problem unless you have a single car to leave, but I do believe with time I will find a work around.

Dave
Playing around in HO and N scale since 1976
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splitrock323 Prolific poster 1,364 posts
splitrock323

Not on cars, but engines

I keep and use my Kadee trip pins. Yes I adjust them and they work great with magnets. I want to try these hoses between my engines. I want to see all three airlines on each side of my Alco sets hooked up. I hope to post pictures soon Thomas Gasior

Thomas W. Gasior MMR

Modeling northern Minnesota iron ore line in HO.

YouTube: Splitrock323      Facebook: The Splitrock Mining Company layout

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